Dragline cleaner for open drainage ditches

ABSTRACT

A horizontally elongated weighted body including front and rear sides as well as top and bottom sides. The front and top sides include structure for attaching drag and haul-back bridle chains thereto and the front side of the body includes a longitudinally extending blade structure supported therefrom with the lower edge of the blade structure being toothed and projecting below the bottom side of the body. In addition, the blade structure is supported from the body for adjustable angular displacement about an axis extending longitudinally of the body whereby the cutting angle of the blade structure may be varied as desired.

[ June 4, 1974 3.135.061 6/1964 Perry et al. 3,276,153 10/1966 Sorensen.... 3,467,199 9/1969 Lowery........................

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 306,308 6/1955 Switzerland. 197,512 5/1958 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerE. H. Eickholt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A horizontally elongated weighted body including front and rear sides as well as top and bottom sides. The front and top sides include structure for attaching drag and haul-back bridle chains thereto and the front side of the body includes a longitudinally extending blade structure supported therefrom with the lower DRAINAGE BITCHES lnventor: William L. Wilson, Savannah, Ga.

[73] Assignees: Virgil P. Terry; Frank 0. Downing, both of Savannah, Ga. part interest to each Nov. 29, 1972 Appl. No.: 310,544

172/265, 37/1 15, 37/2 R lnt. E021 3/60 Field of Search......... 37/2, 115, 116, 103,141, 37/50; 172/265, 27, 29, 610, 611, 720, 766, 767; 15/1043 R, 104.16; 56/229 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent 1 Wilson 1 DRAGLINE CLEANER FOR OPEN [22] Filed:

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i5 uuu etC s m m wflmvw .ye 15M$HVT eeuokh NDRCSC 0275788 2225555 99999999 11111111 65965237 DRAGLINE CLEANER FOR OPEN DRAINAGE DITCHES This invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for use as an attachment to dragline mechanisms such as a dragline crane and which is to be used in cleaning vegetation and other materials from drainage ditches, canals and embankments.

The main object of this invention is to provide a dragline attachment for cleaning the aforementioned ground areas and including structure whereby the depth of the cut made by the attachment is controlled at all times so as to eliminate excess and unnecessary soil removal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaner for use in conjunction with dragline cranes and the like for clearing open drainage canals of excess sediment, rubbish, weeds, underbrush and small trees up to several inches in diameter without excess gouging of drainage canal bottoms and embankments.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cleaner attachment for a dragline crane or the like which may be utilized to perform the desired cleaning operations in an economical manner and to reshape the ground surface being cleaned so as to render the sides of the embankments, drainage ditches or canals substantially smooth.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dragline cleaner attachment in accordance with the preceding objects having no outward extending parts that may be damaged by bending or twisting;

Another important object of this invention is to provide a ditch cleaner attachment for dragline cranes which may be utilized efficiently by crane operators having a minimum of crane operation experience.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a canal or drainage ditch cleaner attachment for draglines and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and'easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. l is a perspective view of the ditch cleaning attachment of the instant invention with the attachment operatively associated with drag and pull-back chain harnesses and cables;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the attachment in use removing vegetation from a sloped ground surface;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the attachment;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the attachment;

I FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l0 generally designates the ditch cleaning attachment of the instant invention. The attachment is illustrated in FIG. I as having dragline and pull-back cable chain harnesses l4 and 16 secured thereto and with the harnesses l4 and 16 secured to pull and haulback cables 18 and 20.

The attachment comprises a horizontally disposed heavy gauge I beam member 22 including upstanding front and rear flanges 24 and 26 interconnected by means of a horizontal bight portion 28 extending therebetween. The lower marginal edge portions of each pair of corresponding opposite ends of the flanges 24 and 26 are interconnected by means of a horizontal front-to-rear extending connecting plate 30 extending and secured therebetween. In addition, the rear portion of the bight portion 28 is weighted by means of a longitudinally extending rear railroad rail 32 and the front side of the body of the attachment comprising the I beam member 22 is weighted by means of a medium length center railroad rail 34 and short opposite end railroad rails 36 and 38. The short rails 36 and 38 are 1 spaced slightly outwardly of the adjacent ends of the center or intermediate rail 34 and a pair of front-torear extending spaced apart and upstanding mounting flanges 40 are secured, as by welding, to the upper surface of the bight portion 28 with each pair of mounting flanges 90 being disposed in the corresponding space between one end of the intermediate front rail 34 and the adjacent short end rail.

A pair of spacing sleeves 42 are secured between the pairs of mounting flanges 90 and have their opposite ends secured through the corresponding flanges 90. A steel pin 44 is secured through each sleeve 42 and a chain shackle 46 is utilized to secure one pair of corresponding ends of chain sections 48 to the sleeves 42 which are internally reinforced by the pins 44. The

chain sections 48 have their other pair of corresponding ends secured to a ring 50 and the sections 48 and the ring 50 define a haul-back chain harness. Of course, the haul-back cable 20 is also anchored to the ring 50.

The upper portion 'of the front flange 24 disposed above the bight portion 28 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 52 secured therethrough and a pair of upstanding longitudinally straight and forwardly convex cutter plates 54 and 56 have their upper marginal edge portions secured to the flanges 24 by means of shank-type fasteners 58 secured through the cutter plates 54 and 56 and the apertures 52. In addition, a suitable number of selected thickness washers 60 may be disposed on the fasteners 58 between the plates 54 and 56 and the flange 24.

The lower marginal edge portion of the flange 24 has an elongated longitudinally extending full length abutment bar 62 secured to its front surface and the abutment bar 62 abuts against the rear surface of the lower marginal edge portions of the cutting or cutter plates 54 and 56, the plates lower marginal edge portions being provided with longitudinally spaced teeth 64.

The flange 24 has a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 66 secured therethrough and a pair of L- shaped mounting flanges 68 are secured through the openings 66 and to the rear surface of the flange 24 by welding. The mounting flanges 68 include forwardly projecting upstanding forward flange portions 70 be tween whose forward ends a pair of similar sleeves 72 are secured and each sleeve 72 has a reinforcing pin 74 secured therethrough. The cutter plates 54 and 56 include openings 76 formed therethrough in registry with the openings 60 and forwardly through which the forward flange portions 70 project. It may be seen from FIG. 6 of the drawings that the sleeves 72 are disposed forwardly of the cutter plates 54 and 56 and from FIG. 1 of the drawings it may be seen that each of the sleeves 72 has a chain shackle 78 secured thereto with a first pair of corresponding ends of a pair of chain sections 80 being anchored to the chain shackle 78. The other pair of ends of the chain sections 80 are secured to an anchor member 82 and the rear end of the pull chain 18 is secured to the anchor member 82. Thus, the attachment I is operatively connected between the pull cable 18 and the haul-back cable 20.

- From FIG. of the drawings it may be appreciated that the lower marginal edge portion of the cutter plates 54 and 56 have their rear surfaces abutted against the abutment bar 62 and therefore that the cutting angle of the plates 54 and 56 may be'adjusted by adding to or subtracting from the washers 52 disposed on the fasteners 58 between the flange 24 and the cutter plates 54 and 56. Also, from FIG. 5 it may be seen that the rear ends of the mounting flanges 68 are notched as at 86 to receive the forward marginal edge portions of the bight portion 28 of the I beam member 22 therein and that the mounting flanges 68 are secured to the rear surface of the flange 24 both above and below the bight portion 28. Also, the teeth 64 are of a vertical extent less than the distance the teeth 64 project below the bottom side of the body of the attachment defined by the l beam member 22 and the connecting plates 30.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the attachment 10 may be readily pulled along an embankment to cut vegetation from the embankment walls without cutting down into the soil an excessive amount.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. An elongated weighted body including front and rear sides as well as top and bottom sides, upstanding cutter blade means extending along the front side of said body, supported from the latter and having its lower edge portion projecting slightly below said bottom side, said front side including longitudinally spaced first anchor means for anchoring a pull bridle thereto, and second anchor means carried by said body at points spaced longitudinally therealong rearward of said front side for anchoring a pull-back line to said body, the forward face of the lower marginal edge portion of the front side of said body including an abutment member extending therealong against whose forward surfaces the rear face of the marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means is abutted, the upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means being supported from said body for front-to-rear adjustment of said upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means, said body comprising an I beam member disposed in horizontal position including front and rear upstanding flanges interconnected by means of a generally horizontal bight portion extending between the vertical mid-portions of said front and rear flanges, said abutment member being carried by the front face of the lower marginal edge portion of said front flange, said upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means being supported from the upper portion of said front flange.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upstanding cutter blade means is provided with lower marginal edge and longitudinally spaced teeth.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said teeth are of a vertical extent greaterthan the vertical distance said lower marginal edge portion projects below said bottom side of said body.

4. The combination of claim I wherein the area above said bight portion between the upperportions of said front and rear flanges of said body defines an upwardly opening channel, said channel having high density weight means disposed therein and secured to said I beam.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means includes longitudinally spaced openings formed therethrough,'the upper portion of said front flange above said bight portion having longitudinally spaced aper tures formed therethrough in front-to-rear registry with said openings, said first anchor means including mounting brackets extending through said openings and apertures and including portions overlying and secured to the rear face of the upper portion of said front flange.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said second anchor means is carried by and projects upwardly from longitudinally spaced portions of said bight portion.

7. The combination of claim 6 including front-to-rear extending braces secured between corresponding ends of the lower marginal edges of said front and rear flanges.

8. An elongated weighted body including front and rear sides as well as top and bottom surfaces, upstanding horizontally elongated cutter blade means extending along the front side of said body, supported from the latter and having its lower edge portion projecting slightly below said bottom surface, the forward lower marginal edge portion of said body including an abutment member extending therealong against whose forward surfaces the rear face of the lower marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means is abutted, the upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means being supported from said body for front-to-rear'adjustment relative to said body, said cutter blade means, above said abutment member, have a plurality of front-to-rear extending openings formed therethrough at points spaced longitudinally therealong, said body including rigid anchor means secured thereto at points spaced therealong, said anchor means including portions projecting forwardly and slidably received through said openings and adapted to have a pull bridle anchored thereto.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said body comprises an I beam member disposed in horizontal position including front and rear upstanding flanges interconnected by means of a generally horizontal bight portion extending between the vertical mid-portions of said front and rear flanges, the forward face of said front flange defining said front side of said body, said front flange including longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower openings formed therethrough above and below said bight portion, said rigid anchor means each including portions extending through the corresponding upper and lower openings formed in said front flange and secured to the rear faces of said front flange above and below said bight portion. 

1. An elongated weighted body including front and rear sides as well as top and bottom sides, upstanding cutter blade means extending along the front side of said body, supported from the latter and having its lower edge portion projecting slightly below said bottom side, said front side including longitudinally spaced first anchor means for anchoring a pull bridle thereto, and second anchor means carried by said body at points spaced longitudinally therealong rearward of said front side for anchoring a pull-back line to said body, the forward face of the lower marginal edge portion of the front side of said body including an abutment member extending therealong against whose forward surfaces the rear face of the marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means is abutted, the upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means being supported from said body for front-to-rear adjustment of said upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means, said body comprising an I beam member disposed in horizontal position including front and rear upstanding flanges interconnected by means of a generally horizontal bight portion extending between the vertical midportions of said front and rear flanges, said abutment member being carried by the front face of the lower marginal edge portion of said front flange, said upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means being supported from the upper portion of said front flange.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upstanding cutter blade means is provided with loWer marginal edge and longitudinally spaced teeth.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said teeth are of a vertical extent greater than the vertical distance said lower marginal edge portion projects below said bottom side of said body.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the area above said bight portion between the upper portions of said front and rear flanges of said body defines an upwardly opening channel, said channel having high density weight means disposed therein and secured to said I beam.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means includes longitudinally spaced openings formed therethrough, the upper portion of said front flange above said bight portion having longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough in front-to-rear registry with said openings, said first anchor means including mounting brackets extending through said openings and apertures and including portions overlying and secured to the rear face of the upper portion of said front flange.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said second anchor means is carried by and projects upwardly from longitudinally spaced portions of said bight portion.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including front-to-rear extending braces secured between corresponding ends of the lower marginal edges of said front and rear flanges.
 8. An elongated weighted body including front and rear sides as well as top and bottom surfaces, upstanding horizontally elongated cutter blade means extending along the front side of said body, supported from the latter and having its lower edge portion projecting slightly below said bottom surface, the forward lower marginal edge portion of said body including an abutment member extending therealong against whose forward surfaces the rear face of the lower marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means is abutted, the upper marginal edge portion of said cutter blade means being supported from said body for front-to-rear adjustment relative to said body, said cutter blade means, above said abutment member, have a plurality of front-to-rear extending openings formed therethrough at points spaced longitudinally therealong, said body including rigid anchor means secured thereto at points spaced therealong, said anchor means including portions projecting forwardly and slidably received through said openings and adapted to have a pull bridle anchored thereto.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said body comprises an I beam member disposed in horizontal position including front and rear upstanding flanges interconnected by means of a generally horizontal bight portion extending between the vertical mid-portions of said front and rear flanges, the forward face of said front flange defining said front side of said body, said front flange including longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower openings formed therethrough above and below said bight portion, said rigid anchor means each including portions extending through the corresponding upper and lower openings formed in said front flange and secured to the rear faces of said front flange above and below said bight portion. 